Face it: Skincare and makeup update

Late summer is a time to consider how the elements, sun, heat and surf, have impacted your skin. First aid for your face should be seasonal and can include skincare and makeup swaps as fall approaches.

Review the effects of cleansers, moisturizers, foundation, concealer, lipstick, blush and eye makeup to see what to keep and what to toss.

Clean products are a must because what we put on our skin is more than skin deep. Dr. Hauschka makes a gentle yet effective cleanser that I’ve used for years, Cleansing Milk. It’s creamy yet light, with a natural scent. What’s more, it’s suitable for sensitive skin. 

For daytime, Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream Light is a go-to, all over moisturizer under makeup that has been my choice for years. At night, Dr. Hauschka’s Apricot Day Cream, a little heavier but still a fresh scent that’s slightly more emollient-rich.

I like Dr. Hauschka’s Daily Hydrating Eye Cream for under eye hydration day and night. In the daytime, it’s under makeup. For a quick touch-up over makeup, I sometimes apply Avene’s Soothing Eye Contour Cream, slightly heavier, softens lines in an instant.

I’ve tried many products by Obagi and Dr. Hauschka’s Regenerating line but have not seen visible differences with either.  The Regenerating series of moisturizers and serums have a strong scent which is always a downside for me. Obagi makes lots of promises. I do not see visible results from their products with the exception of Obagi’s ELASTiderm Neck and Décolleté Lifting Concentrate.

A line of moisturizers and serums I recently added to my routine are by Tatcha. Their Water Cream is a great lightweight moisturizer that disappears quickly. I love their Dewy Skin Serum too which shows immediate results, diffusing lines and giving a brighter look.

It’s been a ride trying to find a foundation to replace Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua which was discontinued over a year ago. I tried a few other Chanel foundations which were heavily-scented and not for me. 

Then I discovered Victoria Beckham’s Foundation Drops.  This foundation provides very light coverage and dries upon contact. Wondering if I could do better, I was color-matched by a professional after the launch of Westman Atelier’s new medium coverage foundation, Supreme Bio-Complex Liquid Foundation. 

The color matching is tricky with this product because it oxidizes on your skin. It’s scented but according to marketing, the scent is a natural botanical. Many of the tints looked yellow on my skin until I found just the right shade. Although I love Westman Atelier for the most part, I am still on the fence about the new foundation. Feels a little heavy but admittedly, the coverage is remarkable.

I still love Gucci Westman’s Vital Skincare Concealer. It’s a workhorse. And her line of Baby Cheeks Blush Sticks are easy to wear, long-lasting and give your skin a natural sheen. Also like her wide, flat, Bonne Brow Defining Pencil. I wish the attached brow brush was longer and slightly stiffer. I use Laura Mercier’s brow pencil to fill in fine lines. It’s a semi-hard pencil with a solid brow brush on the other end and comes with an amazing sharpener.

As for lipstick, I tried Westman Atelier’s Suede series. Didn’t like the palette of colors or the formula which is drying.  Since Chanel discontinued my go-to color, Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating, Roussy, in desperation, I have been layering Clinique Pop lipsticks, Sweet Pop and the discontinued, Fab Pop, just for shine and just for now.

For eyes, I love Jones Road shadows. Bobbi Brown has always had a great palette of colors and since she left her namesake and started Jones Road, she brought that color sense with her. I apply an all over color of Peachy Nude on my lids, then Ash at the outside edge. Camel, an old Bobbi Brown color, and Jones Road Smokey Grey, for depth at the corners and inner eye followed by Jones Road, Chic, a light ivory, in the center of my lid. I use matte eye shadows, exclusively. A soft line with Clinique’s Quickliner in Smoky Brown, an automatic pencil I apply to the lash line and finish with Westman Atelier’s Eye Want You Mascara in Clean Black for a defined eye.

I’m hoping to swap my Clinique products for something that is cleaner and more long-lasting. For me, it’s all about finding the right color and applicator which can be a challenge. My drawer full of not-quite-right brands and colors is definitely overflowing.

If you’re applying something to your face every day, make sure it enhances your skin and your appearance. If you have that nagging feeling that a product isn’t for you, or that color just isn’t quite right, avail yourself of a complimentary makeup session at your favorite salon, department store, or outlet. Remember, no one needs to know whether that glow on your cheeks is natural or not.

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